36 THE BUFFALO. 



Some time after this, the Professor and his party perceived an 

 extremely large herd of buffaloes grazing in a plain. As they 

 were now well acquainted with the disposition of these animals, 

 and knew that they would not attack any person in the open 

 plains, they approached within forty paces, and fired amongst 

 them. The whole troop, notwithstanding the individual fierce- 

 ness and boldness of the animals, surprised by the sudden flash 

 and report, turned about and made off towards the woods. The 

 wounded buffaloes, being unable to keep pace with the rest of 

 the herd, were separated from them. Amongst these was an 

 old buffalo, which ran with fury towards the party. They knew 

 that, from the situation of the eyes of these animals, they could 

 see in scarcely any other direction than straight forward ; and 

 that, in an open plain, if a man that was pursued, darted out of 

 the course, and threw himself flat on the ground, they would 

 gallop forward to a considerable distance before they missed him. 

 These circumstances prevented their suffering any material 

 alarm. The animal, from this contrivance, passed close by them, 

 and fell before he appeared to have discovered his error. Such, 

 nowever, was his strength, that, notwithstanding the ball had en- 

 tered his chest, and penetrated through the greatest part of his 

 body, he ran at full speed several hundred paces before he fell. 



The hunters kill the buffaloes by firing on them from the tops 

 of trees, with balls partly composed of tin, as the hide of this 

 animal is too hard to be penetrated by a common musket-bail. 

 The hide of the buffalo is very valuable, and the leather made 

 from it is much esteemed for its smoothness, impenetrability, and 

 duration qualities which render it excellent for harness. 



This animal, although so wild and formidable in a state of na- 

 ture, is very easily tamed : it is patient and persevering, and being 

 endowed with groat strength, is very serviceable for the draught. 

 In Italy, the buffalo is domesticated, and constitutes a considera- 

 ble part of the wealth and the food of the lower sort of the 

 peasantry, who use them for the purposes of agriculture, and 

 make butter and cheese from their milk, which is, however, reck- 

 oned inferior to that of the cow. Buffaloes are also found in a 

 tame state in many parts of the east, as well as in Italy. It is 

 observed by D'Obsonville, that it is a singular sight to see large 

 herds of them, morning and evening, cross the Tigris and Eu- 

 phrates. They proceed all wedged together, the herdsman riding 

 on one of them, sometimes standing upright, and sometimes 

 couching down, and if any of those on the outside straggle, or 

 lag behind, stepping lightly from back to back, to drive them 

 alon. Thus it appears, that the buffalo, although naturally fierce 

 and terrible when wild, is, by the management of man, rendered 

 an useful animal, and a valuable gift of the bountiful Creator. 



